🇿🇼 Zimbabwe: The Gem Africa’s Been Hiding in Plain Sight

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe: The Gem Africa’s Been Hiding in Plain Sight

Mudhara listen,  ndati ka listen! Zimbabwe has just been ranked the number one country to visit by travel experts, and I don’t know about you, but I’m walking around with my shoulders high, chest out, and passport ready to be stamped “Home Sweet Home.” Because truly, Shamwari, Zimbabwe isn’t just beautiful,  she’s breathtaking, dramatic, wild, and warm all at once.

Today, I’m putting on my tour guide hat (and maybe some sunscreen because, you know, the sun doesn’t play around in Zim 🌞), and taking you on a little adventure across my homeland. So, buckle up, grab a Mazoe, and let’s explore six must-visit spots in Zimbabwe, the places that make travelers say “ndadzoka nenyaya” (I came back with stories!).

1. Victoria Falls – “The Smoke That Thunders” (Mosi-oa-Tunya) 🌊

You haven’t really been to Zimbabwe until you’ve stood near the mighty Victoria Falls and felt that mist on your face. The roar alone? Eish, it humbles you!

Best time to visit: February to May, when the falls are at their fullest, and you can truly understand why it’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

What to do: Go bungee jumping (if your heart is strong ), take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, or fly over the falls for that Instagram-worthy “I’m-on-top-of-the-world” moment.

2. Mana Pools National Park – Where Nature Shows Off 🐘

If Victoria Falls is the diva, Mana Pools is that quiet, mysterious type who lets her beauty do the talking. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wildlife lover’s dream, think elephants taking casual dips, lions lounging like royalty, and hippos showing off their vocals.

Best time to visit: June to October when animals gather around the river.

Pro tip: Don’t just drive, walk! A guided walking safari here is an unmatched experience (and yes, you’ll feel like you’re in National Geographic).

3. Nyanga – The Highlands of Peace and Mystery 🏞️

Inyanga (or Nyanga, depending on your vibes) is where Zimbabwe slows down. Misty mornings, pine-scented air, and hills that whisper “relax.”

Best time to visit: All year round, but it’s especially magical from April to August when it’s cool and cozy.

What to do: Hike up Mount Nyangani (Zimbabwe’s highest peak), chase waterfalls like Mutarazi, and maybe, just maybe, spot the mythical Nyangani mermaid (don’t say I didn’t warn you 👀).

4. Great Zimbabwe Ruins – The Pride of Our Past 🏰

Before there were skyscrapers and Wi-Fi, there was Great Zimbabwe , the ancient stone city that gave our country its name. Walking through those massive stone walls feels like stepping into history itself.

Best time to visit: May to September (cooler months).

What to do: Hire a local guide, their storytelling will leave you in awe. And don’t forget to snap a pic on the Hill Complex at sunset. That golden light? Haibo, it’s giving ancestral glow!

5. Matobo Hills – Where Spirits Rest and Rocks Talk 🪨

Matobo is like that one cousin who’s deeply spiritual but also incredibly cool. Massive granite rocks balanced in impossible ways, ancient San rock paintings, and legends of kings and prophets.

Best time to visit: April to August.

What to do: Visit Cecil John Rhodes’ grave (history buffs, this one’s for you), explore the caves, or simply climb a hill and let the silence speak. There’s something sacred about Matobo.

6. Kariba – The Lake That Thinks It’s an Ocean 🚤

Imagine an inland sea so vast you can’t see the end of it,  that’s Lake Kariba for you. Built in the 1950s, it’s now one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.

Best time to visit: May to September (perfect boating weather).

What to do: Go on a houseboat cruise (don’t forget your braai pack, ndapota), watch the sunset melt into the water, and if you’re lucky, catch the local fish,  kapenta!

Zimbabwe isn’t just a destination, it’s a feeling. It’s the warm smile from a stranger, the sound of mbira in the distance, the plate of sadza and nyama by the fire, and that “ndatenda” that comes from deep within your heart after a long day exploring.

So next time you’re planning a trip, don’t sleep on Zim. Pack your bags, come see why the world’s waking up to our magic  and when you do, remember to say “Tisu vanhu vacho!” (We’re the people!)